This Belladonna scooter has been in the wars and was purchased because of its pedigree and I liked the rough and ready look of it. Also the location was handy when planning scooter trips up north. The original 150 engine in it had been modified and the scooter could get along at 120kms on the […]
Douglas Vespa Wideframe project 2 This Douglas Wideframe scooter came from a local man in Invercargill. It might be worth “doing up” or just reassembling it and getting it going or maybe even selling it as is. Good Points: Body in good condition and complete with little surface rust. Less good but no big deal points: Motor […]
1958 Douglas 92L2 update 5 Recently I discovered how the Douglas scooters were numbered. I had been told the scooter was a 42L2 but after some internet searching and comparing serial numbers with known scooters, I was able to figure out a rough guide as to the dating of the scooters. My serial […]
Vespa SS180 stator replacement I upgraded the original points ignition system on the SS180 quite some time ago but havn’t made too many changes to it since then. The lighting has been great and other than a pickup failing, the rest has worked very well. It was one of the hottest days we have had […]
Bullseye the Vespa SS90 So I got a ring from a guy that was selling a Vespa SS90. He was looking for a good home for his scooter and after talking to him for a bit and some emails back and forth I realised that he was actually a serious seller. We eventually settled on […]
Reachies Belladonna Scooter Recently a Belladonna scooter was advertised for sale in Auckland Black Bella 2003 – 172 QUATTRINI M1X MilleMiglia plus 60mm Mazzucchelli full circle Crankshaft. More or less 182cc – All engine work undertaken by professional technicians. – Quality bearings and seals – Mikuni TM32 flat slide carburettor – Quattrini V Reed and […]
Bajaj scooter – Moto 2019 Things have been a bit slow on the scooter front over the last year with one thing and another. The MotoTT 2019 is fast approaching and the Bajaj is getting some much needed love for the event. The last time out, on this event in 2017, the scooter started spitting […]
Elsie the Lambretta’s new shed So finding parts for a 67 year old scooter still hasn’t got any easier. Some engine parts and what not have appeared on ebay but freight costs have proved to be prohibitive. Even with a functioning engine the LC still would be a tough restoration as it needs a lot […]
1966 Vespa SS180 project The Super Sport, or S.S., was the successor to the G.S. 160 and was built from 1964 to 1968. With the exception of the increase in cc’s, the motor and suspension design are very similar on the two scooters. On the other hand, the styling of the S.S. was totally new. […]
1958 Douglas 92L2 update 4 All through this project the aim was to just get this back on the road and to retain the character of the scooter as it was when I first purchased it. As time has gone by the floor area has been a bit of a concern in how it looks […]
1958 Douglas 92L2 update 3 The original 8″ wheels on this have now been upgraded to 10″ with the standard PX wheel on the back and a ScootRS, atomic branded, GS150 replica conversion rim on the front. The front wheel has plenty of clearance from the guard and with the new Gabriel spring and shock […]
1958 Douglas 92L2 update 2 The PX motor installation has provided some challenges although I never expected this would be easy. Basically it seems there are 3 brackets available for changing the original Douglas 125 engine for a PX – two specifically for the PX200 and another for a PX150 or a standard VBB or Super […]
1958 Douglas 92L2 update 1 Scooters made in the 1950’s had different frame styles and engines than the more recent scooters. Engine side cowl has a bump that cuts into the frame. There is a small door below the choke and fuel levers which hinges toward the headset. For models with 8″ wheels this is where […]
Douglas Vespa Wideframe project 1 Scooters made in the 1950’s had different frame styles and engines than the more recent scooters. To differentiate them from 60’s and later era machines they have the following physical attributes: Engine side cowl has a bump that cuts into the frame. There is a small door below the choke and […]
1970 Vespa SS90 project This 1970 Vespa SS 90 scooter came with some other bits and pieces from a local Invercargill man called Rex. He had advertised on Trade Me looking for a cash sale – not an auction, for his cack (that is scooter stuff mum) and had some photo’s of the scooters and […]
So its now into a new year and we are a bit closer to the next Moto TT. From the last post I had done some re-cabling and purchased some bits and pieces from SIP for the Bajaj. The checklist from the last post was: Working 12v LED indicators A working front brake switch A […]
It’s the change of season here in the deep south right now so one day you could be mowing your lawns in relative comfort and the next its howling a gale and wet. Today has been howling and wet, so after a couple of days in the shed, once the jobs have been done, has got […]
Bajaj scooter update 14 Sante has come early in the Southern Scoot workshop with new parts for the Black Roughie and some other projects on the go. Hopefully, the Bajaj will be the next scoot to complete next years MotoTT (which most scooterists still call the Mille) and its time for some new bits and pieces […]
Sally the Skelly The skeleton (from Greek σκελετός, skeletós “dried up”) is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. Skelly is also a name for a cutdown scooter. A cutdown is a customised scooter (usually an Italian Vespa or Lambretta) with parts of the bodywork removed or cut away. Cutdowns were popular amongst skinheads and scooterboys during the mod revival of the 1970s and […]
Mrs JC update 2 The last time I rode the super it went well but near the end of the ride it was right down on power and just didn’t want to run. It would start and idle fine but would just die in top gear and I eventually had to ride it home, thankfully […]